Vending packet



J. W. MARTIN May 31, 1938.

VENDING PACKET Original Filed Dec. 26, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l 20/ INV ENTOR. (72 07557724 4 FORm/W/K BY ATTORNEY.

y 1, 1938. J. w. MARTIN 2,119,019

VENDING PACKET Original Filed Dec. 26, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY.

Patented May 31, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Refiled for abandonedapplication Serial No. 504,706, December 26, 1930. This applicationApril 27, 1937, Serial No. 139,155

'7 Claims.

The present invention relates to vending packets and more particularlyto sheet material vending packets and to a method of making the same.

It is an object of the invention to provide a vending packet which canbe made from one continuous piece of sheet material in such ,a mannerthat it can be shipped in a flat knocked down condition to the point ofuse or filling where the sheet material can be folded in position toform a packet with projecting shelves for supporting articles ofmerchandise.

It is another object of the invention to provide a vending packet whichcan be filled with articles of merchandise at a factory or distributionstation and then shipped in a box to users who will only have to removethe packet as an entity and insert the same in a vending cabinet.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a unitary vendingpacket of cardboard which is formed and cut in such a manner that whenfolded a multiplicity of superimposed units are made from one blank.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a vending packetconstituted of sheet material and formed into a multiplicity of unitswith projecting shelves which project from the back of the packet andwhich are constructed of two floors separated from each other by an airspace.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a method of makingvending packets of the type herein described which can cut and form thevending packets from one continuous strip or sheet of cardboard or othersheet material.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a somewhat fragmentary View of a preferred vending packetembodying the principle of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a view of a blank from which the vending packet is made;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of a modified embodiment of thepresent invention;

Fig. 4 is a view of a blank from which the vending packet shown in Fig.3 is made;

Fig. 5 is a cross section view of a container such as, a vendingcabinet, in which an improved vending packet is mounted;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view showing a longitudinal section of the lowerportion of the vending cabinet shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a longitudinal sectional view, somewhat fragmentary, of amodified embodiment of the invention, into a weight actuated vendingcabinet. 7

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1 the refer ence character 23designates the wall members or portions of my improved vending packet.Projecting from the wall 23 are a plurality of shelves it. These shelvesare constituted of an upper and lower floor 6 and-6a respectively whichare separated by an air space I. In the present instance, this air spacehas a triangular cross sec- 10 tion due to the fact that the upper andlower floors are joined at the outermost edges in practically a straightline. Of course, the air space may be rectangular in cross section andthe front edges of the upper and lower floors may be joined or unitedwith a piece of sheet material.

The shelves are held in their projecting position by the provision of apair of bands 2 which are located at each side of the vending packet. Inthe present embodiment, the bands are formed 0 from and are integralwith wall 23 and upper and lower floors 6 and 6a of shelves l9. Thesebands may or may not be glued to each other and to wall 23 by means ofany suitable adhesive such as glue, parafiin, paste or the like atjoints I0. 25 Instead of cementing the bands to each other and to wall23, a strip of paper or tape can be afiixed to the front face of thebands or to the front face of the bands and the marginal edge portion ofthe rear of Wall 23. As one skilled in the art will readily understandthe use and construction of these binding strips or tapes, they have notbeen illustrated in the drawings.

The improved vending packet depicted in Fig. 1 can be made from a singlesheet of material such as cardboard. A portion of a blank from which thevending packet is made is shown in Fig. 2. It will be clearly observedthat score lines 22 which extend across the entire width of the blankdefine the upper and lower boundaries of to each of the walls 23.Between score lines I? a slit or out 3 is provided which extends fromthe lower boundary of one wall to the upper boundary of an adjacentwall. Extending outwardly from edge of cut 3 is a score line orperforation I6. This score line formsthe strip of sheet material betweenthe side of the blank and the cut and between adjacent score lines l2into bands 2. Set back or staggered from score lines It is a score line5 which forms the area between adjacent cuts 3 and adjacent score linesl2 into the upper and lower floors of 6 and 5a. In this manner a stripof sheet material such as cardboard can be cut and formed into a blankfrom which the improved vending packet can be made. It is clear that thepresent method provides a procedure for manufacturing vending packetsembodying the principles of the present invention from a continuousstrip of cardboard or other sheet material.

When the blank is formed into a vending packet sufficient material canbe taken so as to produce a unit with about or 12 shelves. Of course,the number of shelves will depend upon the size of the articles to besupported therein. In some instances, a greater number of shelves can beused in a unit vending packet when only small articles are to behandled. One skilled in the art can readily determine the number ofshelves to be included in one unit by taking the size of the article tobe merchandised into consideration.

In Figs. 5 and 6, the improved vending packet is illustrated as beingmounted in a vending cabinet. This cabinet may have any appropriateconstruction and it is herein shown as having a rear wall I8, side walls4 and a front wall 1 containing a glass window 8. Secured to the innerface of rear wall 18 is a holding member l3 which has turned edges ateach side thereof to form grooves ll capable of engaging the bands andthe edges of the vending packet. By the use of grooves ll a unit vendingpacket can be slid or inserted within the vending cabinet. When thepacket is mounted in groove I1, inturned edges M contact with bands 2and form a frictional joint therewith. This frictional joint maintainsthe vending packet in a given position in the vending cabinet. When itis desired to remove an article of merchandise II from the vendingcabinet the lowermost edge of the vending packet 28 may be grasped anddrawn downwardly. As the motion progresses bands 2 are separated fromeach other and from the rear wall and assume a position somewhat likethat shown in Fig. 6. When the bands and the upper and lower floorsassume the position illustrated in Fig. 6, article I slides from theshelf and may be caught in a receptacle or in the hand of the operator.The articles of merchandise I I, of course, may be regular or irregularin shape and may Vary from candies to toys or any other product to befilled or distributed.

In Fig. 3 I have illustrated a modified embodiment of the improvedvending packet. This vending packet has rear walls 22 from which aplurality of shelves 24 project. Shelves 24 are constituted of an upperand lower floor 25 and 25a respectively. As described hereinabove atriangular air space la is provided between the upper and lower floors.

Instead of using bands 2 to hold the vending packet and shelves thereonin position, shoulders 26 are provided at the edge of the packet. Theseshoulders abut against each other and form a solid joint. If desired astrip of tape or the like can be glued to the edges so as to hold theadjacent walls in position with respect to each other. When the modifiedvending packet is to be inserted in the vending cabinet and the articlesthen placed on the shelves it is not necessary to use a tape becauseedges M in the vending cabinet will press against the side edges of thevending packet and will hold the packet as a whole together.

In some instances the modified vending packet is placed in a box orcarton which has a strip of cardboard or the like crimped over the sideedges of the vending packet or otherwise suitably affixed thereto. Whenthis construction is used the carton has a similar construction to thevending cabinet shown in Figs. 5 and 6 except that card board walls areused in place of wood, metal, or the like.

The modified vending packet may be made from one piece of sheet materialas indicated in Fig. 4. At each end of wall 22 a score or perforatedline I5 is provided. This score line is set back from the outermost edgewall 2 so that a folding portion shoulder 26 will be formed. At anintermediate portion of the strip of material between walls 22 a scoreline or perforation 2| is provided to divide the said strip into theupper and lower floors 25 and 25a of shelves 24. When this blank isfolded the upper and lower floors are joined at their outermost edgesand are spaced apart at their innermost edges. This formation is due tothe setting back of score line Hi from the outermost edges of walls 22and by the provision of shoulder 26.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 7, a modified embodiment of myinvention into a vending machine is illustrated.- In this modifiedembodiment a cabinet 21 is provided having a discharge port 28, throughwhich the articles to be dispensed are discharged. A partition wall 29and a pair of guide rails 39 are arranged within the cabinet andco-operate with the marginal portions 32 of the vending packet to retainsame in the desired vertical position and at the same time permittingfrictional displacement of the vending packet in the vertical and upwarddirection. The vending packet proper comprises the shelves 3| which areof a construction similar to the shelves illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3and are adapted to carry the articles to be dispensed (not shown). Theupper and pulled out portion 33 of the vending packet is carried overthe circumference of a small roller 34 and over the circumference ofdrive roller 35. Drive roller 35 is provided with a series of pins 36uniformly spaced around the circumference thereof, which are adapted toco-operate with correspondingly spaced perforations in the cardboard orthe like band forming the vending packet, so that the vending packet maybe vertically displaced by the rotation of drive roller 35. The motivepower for rotating the drive roller is supplied by means of a weight 38suspended from a string or wire 3'! which is wound around shaft 39 ofthe drive roller. Under the influence of weight 38, the drive roller 35is rotated in clockwise direction the uppermost vending shelf is drawnapart and the article on the shelf is dispensed and will slide downguard plate 48 to be discharged through discharge opening 28. Of course,suitable locking means adapted to be actuated manually or automaticallyare preferably provided which normally prevent rotation of drive roller35 and discharge of the articles until a coin or otherwise controlledrelease mechanism is actuated. In view of the fact that such locking andreleasing mechanisms are well known by those skilled in the art and donot form part of my invention no description of these auxiliary deviceswill be necessary.

Although I have illustrated and described certain preferred embodimentsof the invention, it is to be understood that variations andmodifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit ofthe invention, as defined in the appended claims. For instance, the termvending packet and vending cabinet is intended to apply to any type ofdispensing apparatus whether manually or automatically operated or coinoperated.

The present invention is a refile of my application bearing Ser. No.504,706, filed on Dec. 26, 1930 and entitled Vending packets and themethod of making the same, abandoned June 28, 1933.

I claim:

1. A vending packet comprising a wall portion of sheet material adaptedto be mounted vertically in a vending cabinet, and a plurality ofshelves of sheet material for supporting articles projectingtransversely from said wall portion at spaced intervals and constitutedof a top floor and bottom floor which are joined together at theoutermost free end and secured to the wall at the innermost end andseparated by an appreciable air space, said wall portion and shelvesbeing arranged in such a manner as to be capable of being withdrawn fromthe cabinet.

2. A vending packet comprising a wall portion of sheet material adaptedto be mounted vertically and held at the sides thereof in a vendingcabinet and a plurality of shelves of sheet material for supportingarticles projecting transversely from said wall portion at substantiallyregularly spaced intervals, each of said shelves consisting of a top anda bottom floor havin their outermost ends joined together and theirinnermost ends joined to the wall portions in such a manner that thesaid shelves and wall portion can be withdrawn from a cabinet as acontinuous strip, said top and bottom floors being separated by anappreciable air space.

3. A vending packet constituted of sheet material comprising a pluralityof wall portions constituting the back of the packet and adapted to bemounted vertically in a vending cabinet, a plurality of side portionsarranged laterally of the wall portions and adapted to cooperate witheach other to hold the Wall portions in position, and a plurality ofshelves projecting from said wall portions in a direction approximatelytransverse thereto and adapted to support articles, each of said shelvesconsisting of a top floor and a bottom floor joined to each other attheir outermost edges and to the wall portions at their innermost edgesin such a manner that the packet may be withdrawn from a vending cabinetas a continuous strip, said top and bottom floors being separated by anappreciable air space.

4. A vending packet constituted of sheet material comprising a pluralityof wall portions having their tops and bottoms parallel to each otherand adapted to constitute the back of the packet and to be mounted in avending cabinet, a plurality of bands located at each side of the packetand extending from the bottom of one wall portion to the top of theother, each of said bands being capable of being folded at anintermediate region thereof and being adapted to hold said wall portionsin position, and a shelf interposed between adjacent wall portions andconsisting of a top floor and a bottom floor joined together at theiroutermost ends and joined at their innermost ends to the bottom of onewall portion and the top of an adjacent lower wall portion respectivelywhereby an article may be mounted on each shelf and the packet may bewithdrawn from a vending cabinet as a continuous strip, said top andbottom floors being separated by an appreciable air space.

5. An integral vending packet constituted of cardboard comprising aplurality of rectangularly shaped Wall portions spaced from each otherand having their tops and bottoms parallel to each other, said wallportions being adapted to constitute the back of the packet and to bemounted in a vending cabinet, a band located at each side of the packetand extending between and secured to adjacent wall portions, each bandbeing adapted to fold at an intermediate region thereof and to hold thewall portions in spaced position with respect to each other, said bandsin their folded position occupying the side regions of the wallportions, and a shelf projecting in a direction substantially transverseto said wall portions and adapted to support articles when mounted in avending cabinet, said shelf consisting of a top floor and a bottom floorjoined together at their outermost ends and joined to the bottom of awall portion and to the top of an adjacent portion respectively andspaced from each other to form a substantial triangularlyshaped airrecess therebetween.

6. A vending packet blank of sheet material comprising a plurality ofspaced wall portions having tops and bottoms parallel to each other,means located at the sides of the packet to hold said wall portions inspaced relation with respect to each other, and a shelf interposedbetween adjacent wall portions and consisting of a top floor and abottom floor joined together at their outermost ends and to the bottomof a wall portion and the top of an adjacent one respectively, eachshelf being secured to the wall portions in such a manner as to becapable of being folded in a direction substantially transverse to saidpacket, and said top and bottom floors being separated by an appreciableair space.

'7. An integral vending packet blank of cardboard comprising a pluralityof regularly spaced wall portions having substantially rectangularshapes and having their tops and bottoms parallel to each other, anarrow band located at each side of the packet and interposed betweenand secured to adjacent wall portions, a scored line at an intermediateregion of said band to permit folding thereof, and a shelf extendingbetween adjacent wall portions and consisting of a top floor and abottom fioor joined together at their outermost ends and to the bottomof a wall portion and the top of an adjacent lower one, said top andbottom floors being separated by an appreciable air space, the aforesaidelements being secured to and arranged with respect to each other insuch a manner that each shelf projects in a direction substantiallytransverse to the wall portions and band folds adjacent to the sides ofthe wall portions to hold them in position.

JAMES WELLFORD MARTIN.

